Going to Cancun with family made this Christmas even more special

CANCUN — Every Christmas is special — my late father taught me that at an early age — but this year it was really extra special because I spent seven days in Cancun with 10 other family members.

Was it expensive? Yes. It was the most money I’ve ever spent at Christmas. Was it worth it? Absolutely it was worth every penny and more. In fact, my guess is if my health remains good for another year we will be back in Cancun again next Christmas.

We stayed at the Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa. It’s an all-inclusive resort and to say my five grandchildren loved that would be an understatement. So did the adults, but my granddaughter thought being able to eat or drink whatever she wanted at any time was spectacular and one grandson loved being able to order room service 24/7.

So what were other reasons for enjoying seven days where the high temperatures were in the mid-80’s and the lows in the high 60’s — with only one day where rain even impacted anything we wanted to do?

—The water activities, especially in December, were a huge hit with my group. Kayaking and paddle boarding were included. My personal favorite was being able to use a sailboat which obviously I could not do but a resort employee took me and two grandkids out and we had a blast.

But there was also beach/pool volleyball,  pool/beach games and my personal favorite, water aerobics that I actually did four straight days.

My son and daughter also both took their families on snorkeling excursions. I went with my son and let’s just say that was not my favorite two hours of our Christmas week trip.

— Don’t laugh but the cooking classes were amazing. One day my daughter and granddaughter made guacamole from scratch. I am not a guacamole eater — or I was not before. But what they made converted me and then Marisol, one of the entertainment staff members,  let me have the bowl of guacamole she made. I thought I would just eat a bit but I ate the whole bowl. Paella is now one of my favorite dishes also and I had never heard of this Spanish cuisine before we went to Mexico. Entertainment staff member Jose and resort chefs put on this demonstration by the pool — and then I got to eat a dish of saffron-flavored rice cooked with mussels, clams, shrimp and crab  along with various vegetables. Not only did it taste great, but it was really filling.

— It might not seem that important, but the Wi-Fi at the resort was faster than what I have at home. That was important for grandchildren at night to get online and important to me so I could somewhat stay connected with what I do work-wise. It also made it easier to communicate with folks back home via email, FaceTime or Messenger. Sometimes I get frustrated with internet connections on trips but Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa promised a strong connection and delivered.

— In a foreign country, I also worry about what I would do if I had any problems. The concierge staff here not only was helpful but they were all always smiling. Genesis helped me with several issues and got them worked out quickly and efficiently. When we had concerns that the weather might mess with our departure flight, she let us know what possible backup lodging/travel plans we could make if needed. She made sure our stay was everything we wanted and is a big reason we will go back.

This resort also had a doctor on duty 24/7. Again, normally that is not a big deal but we had two medical issues that required attention and it was terrific knowing there was a doctor at the resort and available to us. Even better news is that the doctor quickly evaluated the issues and got them under control.

— The on-site restaurants were terrific and offered Asian, Mexican, Italian, French and American cuisine along with a seafood restaurant. My grandchildren were big fans of the crab cakes as well as the hibachi food/show in the Asian restaurant. The poolside grill had hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and onion rings or you could go for specialty pizza — including a shrimp pizza I really liked. There was also a tequila fest one day complete with fajitas at the beach/pool.

— Entertainment each night had a lot of choices from a fire performance to circ de sol to a light show to dancing. You also had a movie option on the outdoor big screen along with a singer in the lobby. Shows lasted 30 to 45 minutes and were a nice way for family time to end each night.

— The resort entertainment staff seemed to live at the resort with the way staff members were always there. Even the morning after the resort staff Christmas party, they were back at the pool offering everything from bracelet making to painting to yoga to bingo to blackjack and much, much more.

Twice I took the 5-mile round trip bike ride to Porto Morelos, an oceanfront town, with resort staff members. Marisol was one of the tour guides the first trip and the second time we had Jose. It was fun to make the relatively flat ride and then see the shops and sights of a lovely small town.

I really enjoyed the water aerobics with Jose, who either called me Mr. 5K — he saw me wearing a shirt from the Jingle Bell Jog 5K — or Mr. Larry. He was non-stop energy and I got to admit both my back and knees felt better after a week of water aerobics with him.

We had stayed at an “adult” resort before in Cancun but will be back at Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa because we liked what Jose, Karen and Marisol along with other entertainment staff members did to make every day so much fun.

— We also found out that Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa was a popular wedding destination. Why is that important? Because the wedding receptions on the beach were fun to watch. I know. It doesn’t sound like fun but watching people dancing to some great music and partying on the beach just rejuvenates you.

So a big, big thanks to Roxanne Laks, a travel agent-river cruise specialist for AAA Club Alliance Inc., for putting this family Christmas vacation together for us to make memories that really are priceless. Every trip she has planned for us has been great so if you would like to see what she can do for you, reach out to her at rlaks@aaa-alliedgroup.com and maybe you can have as much fun as we did in Cancun.